Zambia’s Diocese of Solwezi has launched on June 24 a Bible translated in three local languages—Kaonde, Lunda and Luvale, Radio Vaticana reports.
The Bible was introduced during Mass at St. Daniel’s Cathedral Parish. The presider, Bishop Charles Kasonde, reminded that Christians must strengthen their faith and use the Word of God as the basis of their everyday lives.
“The Word of God has to be deepened in your lives by experiencing it and later sharing its goodness with others by letting the Word of God radiate its goodness in the society, homes and hearts,” the Bishop said.
In a symbolic gesture, Bishop Kasonde presented the translated Bible to six senior citizens and two babies who were present at the cathedral.
“I want to connect the two generations of people who helped to plant Ekklesia (the Church) and the younger generation who are growing and who are going to continue to carry out the work of planting Ekklesia…all these I am going to give them free Bibles,” he said.
The church leader thanked the various organizations which helped in the development of the locally-translated Bible. He said the Overseas Bible Outreach, the people of South Korea, and the Bible Society of Zambia gave their assistance in the creation of a Bible which would be appreciated by the different communities in the diocese.
“Worth mentioning also is the magnanimous cooperation of the Bible Society of Zambia who allowed us to use their text for the realization of the Catholic translation of the Word of God,” Bishop Kasonde said.
The Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator Fr. Sydney Lubinda revealed that the project of translating the Bible started in 2014. Today, there are now 15,000 copies of the Bible—5,000 copies each in Kaonde, Lunda and Luvale, according to Catholic Zambia.
Earlier in the week, a Muslim man drove more than 2,000 kilometers to deliver a truck full of Bibles to the Diocese of Solwezi.
Sources:
Radiovaticanava. (2017). Radiovaticanava. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/07/01/zambia_diocese_launches_catholic_bible_in_local_languages_/1322584
Mwenya. (2017). Catholiczambiaorgzm. http://www.catholiczambia.org.zm/index.php/media-video-audio/news-1/499-base-your-lives-on-god-s-word-bishop-kasonde-urges-christians
